Sensor signal detection device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a sensor signal detection device which allows the improvement of reliability. This sensor signal detection device comprises an internal power supply voltage generation circuit, a buffer amplifier for receiving signals from a sensor, a first pull-up element and pull-down element which are connected to an input terminal of the buffer amplifier via a first pair of switches, a gain amplifier for receiving output signals of the buffer amplifier, a second pull-up element and pull-down element which are connected to an input terminal of the gain amplifier via a second pair of switches, and a failure inspection circuit for inspecting buffer amplifier and gain amplifier by controlling the connection of the two pairs of switches in a predetermined sequence, and measuring the voltage at a predetermined location when power is started up.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/879,758 filed Jun. 30,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,026,844. The disclosure of the priorapplication is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sensor signal detection device, forsecuring the safety of the human body, in industrial and vehicleequipment comprising a sensor.

2. Description of the Related Art

Industrial and vehicle equipment have used a sensor to prevent dangerwhich harms the human body. In other words, when at least a part of thehuman body enters a dangerous area, the sensor detects this status,outputs the detection signal thereof to a sensor signal detectiondevice, and the sensor signal detection device outputs a signal to stopor invert operation of the operating section of the equipment. Accordingto Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-171344, for example, acable type sensor is disposed at the door or window of an automobile,and when a hand is caught in an electric window, a pulse signal isgenerated at the core electrode of the cable type sensor, this signal isinput into a sensor signal detection device, and is amplified anddetected. Then this sensor signal detection device executes digitalprocessing to output the signal to such a controller as a microcomputer,and the controller stops or inverts operation of the electric window toprevent danger to the human body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described above, equipment comprising a sensor requires a sensorsignal detection device for detecting signals from the sensor, and veryhigh reliability is demanded for the sensor signal detection device toinsure safety to the human body.

Generally a failure inspection is performed to increase reliability fora device comprised of digital circuits before the device operates.Actually many of the devices themselves execute an initial test whenpower is started up. However with devices comprised of analog circuits,such as sensor signal detection devices, normally the devices themselvesdo not execute a failure inspection.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a sensor signal detection device which allows the improvement ofreliability.

To solve the above problems, a sensor signal detection device accordingto the present invention comprises: an internal power supply voltagegeneration circuit for generating internal power supply voltage from apower supply voltage; a first amplifier for receiving to an inputterminal thereof positive and negative pulse signals from a sensor; afirst pull-up element for pulling up the input terminal of the firstamplifier to the internal power supply voltage side; a first pull-downelement for pulling down the input terminal of the first amplifier tothe ground potential side; a first pair of switches for electricallyconnecting the first pull-up element or pull-down element to the inputterminal of the first amplifier; a second amplifier for receiving to aninput terminal thereof output signals of the first amplifier; a secondpull-up element for pulling up the input terminal of the secondamplifier to the internal power supply voltage side; a second pull-downelement for pulling down the input terminal of the second amplifier tothe ground potential side; a second pair of switches for electricallyconnecting the second pull-up element or pull-down element to the inputterminal of the second amplifier; and a failure inspection circuit forcontrolling the connection of the first and second pair of switches in apredetermined sequence and measuring voltage at a predetermined locationwhen power supply is started up so as to inspect the first and secondamplifiers.

This sensor signal detection device may further comprise a first windowcomparator for receiving to an input terminal thereof the output signalsof the first amplifier, and a second window comparator for receiving toan input terminal thereof the output signals of the second amplifier,wherein the failure inspection circuit also inspects the first andsecond window comparators.

The sensor signal detection device of the present invention can improvereliability by disposing a failure inspection circuit for inspecting thefailure of the first and second amplifiers by controlling the first andsecond pair of switches when power is started up, and confirming normaloperation of the two analog circuits (first and second amplifiers)constituting the sensor signal detection device when power is startedup.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram depicting the sensor signal detection deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting operation of the above sensor signaldetection device when power is started up.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting theconfiguration of the sensor signal detection device 1 according to theembodiment of the present invention.

This sensor signal detection device 1 is comprised of an internal powersupply voltage generation circuit 20 for generating the internal powersupply voltage (V_(REG)) from the power supply voltage (V_(CC)), abuffer amplifier (first amplifier) 21 for receiving signals from a cabletype sensor (sensor) 2 including a sensor resistance 3 to an inputterminal T₁, a first pull-up resistance (first pull-up element) 11 whichcan forcibly pull-up this input terminal T₁ to the internal power supplyvoltage (_(VREG)) side, a first pull-down resistance (first pull-downelement) 12 which can forcibly pull-down this input terminal T₁ to theground potential side, a first pair of switches 15 and 16 forelectrically connecting the first pull-up resistance 11 or the firstpull-down resistance 12 to the input terminal T₁ of the buffer amplifier21 when power is started up, a gain amplifier (second amplifier) 22 forreceiving the output signals of the buffer amplifier 21 to the inputterminal T₂, a second pull-up resistance (second pull-up element) 13which can forcibly pull-up this input terminal T₂ to the internal powersupply voltage (V_(REG)) side, a second pull-down resistance (secondpull-down element) 14 which can forcibly pull-down this input terminalT₂ to the ground potential side, a second pair of switches 17 and 18 forelectrically connecting the second pull-up resistance 13 or the secondpull-down resistance 14 to the input terminal T₂ of the gain amplifier22 when power is started up, a first window comparator 23 for receivingthe output signals of the buffer amplifier 21 to the input terminal T₃,a second window comparator 24 for receiving the output signals of thegain amplifier 22 to the input terminal T₄, and a failure inspectioncircuit 10 for inspecting the startup of the internal power supplyvoltage (V_(REG)) when power is started up and controlling the first andsecond pairs of switches 15 and 16, 17 and 18 so as to inspect thefailure of the buffer amplifier 21, gain amplifier 22, and the first andsecond window comparators 23 and 24.

In a more detailed description, the internal power supply voltagegeneration circuit 20 connects a capacitor 29, for smoothing theinternal power supply voltage (V_(REG)), and a resistance 28 inserted ina space with the input terminal T₁ at the output side. This internalpower supply voltage generation circuit 20 supplies the internal powersupply voltage (V_(REG)) to the buffer amplifier 21, gain amplifier 22,and window comparators 23 and 24 and other components. Here the internalpower supply voltage (V_(REG)) is set to about 5V. The resistance 28 andthe sensor resistance 3 are set to an equal resistance value. Betweenthe input terminal T₁ and the cable type sensor 2, a low pass filter 25is inserted so as to remove high frequency noise from the output of thecable type sensor 2. In this case, the resistance value of the low passfilter 25 is sufficiently smaller than that of the resistance 28 and thesensor resistance 3.

The buffer amplifier 21 is a voltage follower type in the presentembodiment, and the amplification factor is xl, but this magnificationcan be adjusted. The first pull-up resistance 11 and the pull-downresistance 12 must have a resistance value much smaller than that of theresistance 28, so in the present embodiment, it is assumed that theresistance value of the 28 is 10 MΩ, and that of the first pull-upresistance 11 and the pull-down resistance 12 are 100 kΩ.

The gain amplifier 22 is for inputting the output signals of the bufferamplifier 21 to the input terminal T₂ thereof, where the band-passfilter 26 is inserted between the input terminal T₂ and the outputterminal of the buffer amplifier 21. This band-pass filter 26 allowsonly the signal band originally sensed by the cable type sensor 2 topass. Between the output terminal of the gain amplifier 22 and the inputterminal T2, the feedback circuit 27, for determining the amplificationfactor thereof, is inserted. To the other input terminal, the referencevoltage (V_(ref0)) is input. The resistance value of the second pull-upresistance 13 and the pull-down resistance 14 is set to be much smallerthan the resistance value of the feedback circuit 27. The output of thisgain amplifier 22 becomes the analog signal output (A_OUT) of the sensorsignal detection device 1.

The first window comparator 23 includes two comparators and an ANDcircuit to which the output of these comparators are input, and theoutput signals of the buffer amplifier 21 are input to one inputterminal T₃ of the two comparators, and the high and low referencevoltages (V_(ref1), V_(ref2)) are input to the other input terminal ofeach comparator respectively. These high and low reference voltages(V_(ref1), V_(ref2)) are set to about 3.5V and about 1.5V respectively.The second window comparator 24 includes two comparators and an ORcircuit to which the output of these comparators is input, and theoutput signals of the gain amplifier 22 are input to one input terminalT4 of the two comparators, and the high and low reference voltages(_(Vref3), V_(ref4)) are input to the other input terminal of eachcomparator. These high and low reference voltages (V_(ref3), V_(ref4))are set to a voltage when 0.5V is added to the reference voltage(V_(ref0)) and a voltage when 0.5V is subtracted from the referencevoltage (V_(ref0)) respectively. And the sensor signal detection device1 further comprises a transistor 31 which turns ON/OFF by an AND circuitto which the output signal of the first window comparator 23 and theinverted signal of the output of the failure inspection circuit 10 areinput, and a transistor 30 which turns ON/OFF by an AND circuit to whichthe output signal of the above-mentioned AND circuit and the outputsignal of the second window comparator 24 are input. These transistors30 and 31 are open-drain types, and the output (O/S_OUT) of thetransistor 31 is connected to the output end of the transistor 30 viathe resistance 33, and this output end becomes the digital signal output(D_OUT) of the sensor signal detection device 1. This digital signaloutput (D_OUT) is connected to the power supply (Vd) at the controller(not shown in the circuit diagram), such as a microcomputer whichreceives this signal, via the resistance 32.

The failure inspection circuit 10 controls the first and second pair ofswitches 15 and 16, 17 and 18 in the failure inspection flow when poweris started up, and inspects the ON/OFF operation of the transistors 30and 31. The failure inspection circuit 10 is comprised of four latchcircuits A, B, C and D corresponding to the first and second pair ofswitches 15 and 16, 17 and 18, and outputs High level if one of thelatch circuits A, B, C and D is in reset status, and outputs Low levelif all of the latch circuits A, B, C and D are in set status. If all ofthe inspections are judged as normal (no failure locations) in thefailure inspection flow when the power is started up, then all the latchcircuits A, B, C and D become set status.

Now the operation of the sensor signal detection device 1 after power isstarted up (normal operation) will be described. Normal operation isperformed after the later mentioned failure inspection flow at power ONif failure is not detected. At this time, the failure inspection circuit10 outputs Low level, so as not to influence the operation of the othercircuits.

In stable status of the normal operation, since the resistance 28 andthe sensor resistance 3 have an equal resistance value and theresistance value of the low pass filter 25 is sufficiently small, theinput terminal T₁ of the buffer amplifier 21 is maintained at anintermediate voltage (about 2.5V), and the output signal thereof is alsomaintained at the same voltage. Therefore the output signals in therange between the high and low reference

voltages (V_(ref1), V_(ref2)) are input to one input terminal T₃ of thetwo comparators of the first window comparator 23, so the transistor 31is in ON status.

The input terminal T₂ of the gain amplifier 22, on the other hand, ismaintained at the same voltage as the reference voltage (V_(ref0)),since the DC voltage of the output signals of the buffer amplifier 21 isfiltered out by the band-pass filter 26, and the output thereof, that isthe analog signal output (A_OUT), is also maintained at the samevoltage. And in the window comparator 24, the high and low referencevoltages (V_(ref3), V_(ref4)) are set to a voltage when 0.5V is added tothe reference voltage (V_(ref0)) and a voltage when 0.5V is subtractedfrom the reference voltage (V_(ref0)) respectively, so the transistor 30is in OFF status. Therefore the digital signal output (D_OUT) is anintermediate voltage between the voltage of the power supply (Vd) andthe ground potential, which are determined by the resistance 32 and theresistance 33.

When a part of a human body is in a dangerous area, that is when a handor a finger is caught in an electric window of an automobile, forexample, a pair of pulse signals, positive and negative, are input insequence from the cable type sensor 2 to the buffer amplifier 21. Inthis case, the high frequency or the low frequency noise superimposed onthe pulse signals is removed by the low pass filter 25 and the band passfilter 26, and the original pulse signals are amplified by the gainamplifier 22, and analog signal output (A_OUT) is output from the outputterminal. If this analog signal output (A_OUT) becomes the referencevoltage (V_(ref3)) or more or the reference voltage (V_(ref0)) or less,the transistor 30 becomes ON status by the output signal of the secondwindow comparator 24, and the digital signal output (D_OUT) becomesground potential.

The output voltage of the buffer amplifier 21 is the voltage beforebeing amplified by the gain amplifier 22, and if this voltage becomesthe reference voltage (V_(ref1)) or more or the reference voltage(V_(ref2)) or less, the transistors 30 and 31 both become OFF status bythe output signal of the first window comparator 23, and the digitalsignal output (D_OUT) becomes the voltage of the power supply (Vd). Inthis case, the sensor signal detection device 1 notifies an abnormalstatus, in which the cable type sensor 2 is disconnected or shorted.

Now the failure inspection flow, which the failure inspection circuit 10performs at power ON (when power is started up), will be described withreference to the flow chart in FIG. 2.

At first, the latch circuits A, B, C and D in the failure inspectioncircuit 10 are reset as initial status (S101). So the failure inspectioncircuit 10 outputs High level, the transistors 30 and 31 become OFFstatus, and the digital signal output (D_OUT) becomes the voltage of thepower supply (Vd).

Now it is inspected whether the internal power supply voltage (V_(REG))is an appropriate value (S102). The internal power supply voltage(V_(REG)) is set to 5V, but the lower limit voltage at which the bufferamplifier 21, gain amplifier 22 and window comparators 23 and 24 performnormal operation is assumed 3.8V or more, for example. If the internalpower supply voltage (V_(REG)) is less then 3.8V (in the case of NG),this inspection is continued, and if it is 3.8V or more (in the case ofOK), processing moves to the next inspection.

Then it is inspected whether the disconnection of the cable type sensor2 can be detected, that is, whether the buffer amplifier 21 and thefirst window comparator 23 can operate to detect the disconnection(S103). This inspection is performed when closing the switch 15 of thefirst pair of switches 15 and 16 and pulling up the voltage of the inputterminal T₁ of the buffer amplifier 21 by the first pull-up resistance11. By this, voltage exceeding the high reference voltage (V_(ref1)) ofthe first window comparator 23 is output from the output terminal of thebuffer amplifier 21, so the output signal of the first window comparator23 becomes the same as the case when the cable type sensor 2 is shorted,that is, the output signal makes both the transistors 30 and 31 becomeOFF status. If this output signal cannot be detected, that is, if thisinspection is not passed (in the case of NG), the latch circuit A staysas is (S104), and this inspection is continued. If this inspection ispassed (in the case of OK), the latch circuit A is set (S105), and thenext inspection is started.

Then it is inspected whether the short of the cable type sensor 2 can bedetected, that is, whether the buffer amplifier 21 and the first windowcomparator 23 can detect the short (S106). This inspection is performedwith closing the switch 16 of the first pair of switches 15 and 16 andpulling down the voltage of the input terminal T₁ of the bufferamplifier 21 by the first pull-down resistance 12. By this, voltagelower than the low reference voltage (V_(ref2)) of the first windowcomparator 23 is output from the output terminal of the buffer amplifier21, so the output signal of the first window comparator 23 becomes thesame as the case when the cable type sensor 2 is shorted, that is, theoutput signal makes both the transistors 30 and 31 become OFF status. Ifthis output signal cannot be detected, that is, if this inspection isnot passed (in the case of NG), the latch circuit B stays as is (S107),and this inspection is continued. If this inspection is passed (in thecase of OK), the latch circuit B is set (S108), and the next inspectionis started.

Then it is inspected whether the gain amplifier 22 and the second windowcomparator 24 operate normally when a positive pulse is input from thecable type sensor 2 to the sensor signal detection device 1 (S109). Thisinspection is performed by closing the switch 17 of the second pair ofswitches 17 and 18 and pulling up the voltage of the input terminal T₂of the gain amplifier 22 by the second pull-up resistance 13. By this,voltage lower than the low reference voltage (V_(ref4)) of the secondwindow comparator 24 is output from the output terminal of the gainamplifier 22, which is an inversion amplifier, so the output signal ofthe second window comparator 24 becomes the same as the case when apositive pulse is input from the cable type sensor 2. If this outputsignal cannot be detected, that is, if this inspection is not passed (inthe case of NG), the latch circuit C stays as is (S110), and thisinspection is continued. If this inspection is passed (in the case ofOK), the latch circuit C is set (S11), and the next inspection isstarted.

Then it is inspected whether the gain amplifier 22 and the second windowcomparator 24 operate normally when a negative pulse is input from thecable type sensor 2 to the sensor signal detection device 1 (S112). Thisinspection is performed with closing the switch 18 of the second pair ofswitches 17 and 18 and pulling down the voltage of the input terminal T₂of the gain amplifier 22 by the second pull-down resistance 14. By this,voltage higher than the high reference voltage (V_(ref3)) of the secondwindow comparator 24 is output from the output terminal of the gainamplifier 22, so the output signal of the second window comparator 24becomes the same as the case when a negative pulse is input from thecable type sensor 2. If this output signal cannot be detected, that is,if this inspection is not passed (in the case of NG), the latch circuitD stays as is (S113), and this inspection is continued. If thisinspection is passed (in the case of OK), the latch circuit D is set(S114), and the failure inspection flow when power is started up ends.

If everything is normal (not judged as a failure) in the above failureinspection flow when power is started up, the latch circuits A, B, C andD all become set status, the failure inspection circuit 10 outputs Lowlevel, and then the above mentioned normal operation is performed(S115). If an abnormality occurs (judged as a failure) in the failureinspection flow, one of the latch circuits A, B, C and D is in resetstatus, so the failure inspection circuit 10 continues the inspection inthe status where High level is output.

Needless to say, the first pull-up resistance 11 and the pull-downresistance 12 can be replaced with elements which can forcibly changethe voltage of the input terminal T₁ of the buffer amplifier 21, such asa constant current source. This is the same for the second pull-upresistance 13 and the pull-down resistance 14. The first pair ofswitches 15 and 16 need not be installed between the first pull-upresistance 11 or the pull-down resistance 12 and the input terminal T₁of the buffer amplifier 21 only if the connection and disconnection ofcurrent can be controlled. This is the same for the second pair ofswitches 17 and 18.

In the present embodiment, the sensor signal detection device 1 has adigital signal output (D_OUT) function, but in the case of a devicehaving only an analog signal output (A_OUT) function, the sensor signaldetection device need not comprise the first and second windowcomparators 23 and 24, and the output of the buffer amplifier 21 and thegain amplifier 22 may be directly inspected by the failure inspectioncircuit 10.

The present invention is not limited to the above mentioned embodiment,but various design changes are possible within the scope of the claims.

1. A signal detection device, comprising: an internal power supplyvoltage generation circuit for generating an internal power supplyvoltage from a power supply voltage; an input circuit for receiving atan input terminal thereof pulse signals; a first pull-up element forpulling up the input terminal of the input circuit to the internal powersupply voltage; a first pull-down element for pulling down the inputterminal of the input circuit to a ground potential; a first pair ofswitches for electrically connecting the first pull-up element or firstpull-down element to the input terminal of the input circuit; anamplifier for receiving at an input terminal thereof output signals ofthe input circuit; a second pull-up element for pulling up the inputterminal of the amplifier to the internal power supply voltage; a secondpull-down element for pulling down the input terminal of the amplifierto the ground potential; a second pair of switches for electricallyconnecting the second pull-up element or second pull-down element to theinput terminal of the amplifier; and a failure inspection circuit forcontrolling the connection of said first and second pair of switches ina predetermined sequence and measuring the internal power supply voltagewhen power supply is started up, so as to inspect said input circuit andsaid amplifier.
 2. The signal detection device according to claim 1,wherein said failure inspection circuit includes latch circuitscorresponding to said first and second pair of switches.
 3. The signaldetection device according to claim 2, wherein the latch circuits ofsaid failure inspection circuit are reset as initial status when powersupply is started up.
 4. The signal detection device according to claim3, wherein said failure inspection circuit measures the internal powersupply voltage, and then controls the connection of said first andsecond pair of switches and sets the corresponding latch circuits in apredetermined sequence.
 5. The signal detection device according toclaim 1, wherein said input circuit is another amplifier.
 6. The sensorsignal detection device according to claim 5, wherein the amplificationfactor of said input circuit is x1.
 7. The sensor signal detectiondevice according to claim 1, further comprising: a first windowcomparator for receiving at an input terminal thereof the output signalsof said input circuit; and a second window comparator for receiving atan input terminal thereof the output signals of said amplifier, whereinsaid failure inspection circuit also inspects the first and secondwindow comparators.
 8. The signal detection device according to claim 1,wherein a low pass filter is located prior to the input terminal of saidinput circuit.
 9. The signal detection device according to claim 1,wherein a band-pass filter is inserted between the input terminal ofsaid amplifier and the output terminal of said input circuit.
 10. Thesignal detection device according to claim 1, wherein the amplificationfactor of said amplifier is determined by a feedback circuit insertedbetween the output terminal and input terminal thereof.